What THR's critics say about the movies opening this week.

As the much anticipated prequel to The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -- adapted from the first six chapters of Tolkien's 19-chapter book -- tells the tale of Thorin, played by Richard Armitage, who leads 13 dwarves to reclaim the kingdom that has been taken over by giant trolls. With the guidance of Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) along with the hobbit Bilbo (Martin Freeman), an adventure to take back the land of Lonely Mountain awaits.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Die-hard fans will gorge upon Peter Jackson's adaptation from J.R.R. Tolkien's book, though the movie itself is a bit of a slog, writes Todd McCarthy. Read McCarthy’s review here.

Any Day NowTravis Fine's drama co-stars Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt as a couple fighting prejudice while attempting to adopt a Down syndrome-afflicted teenager. Read Frank Scheck’s review here.

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
The comedy drama, adapted from the 1932 novel by Julia Strachey, offers a pleasing storyline with spot-on production values and a fine cast. Read John DeFore's review here.

Let Fury Have the Hour
Cheerleading for a couple of generations of artists who've viewed their output as a struggle against right-wing politics, Antonino D'Ambrosio's film is stuffed with "right on!" moments and attractive image-making. Read John DeFore's review here.